National Elections

Jennifer Granholm: Romney’s cars get the elevator, and the workers get the shaft

by

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, "where the trees are just the right height," went old school and delivered a barn burner of a speech on President Obama's rescue of the auto industry that had the convention hall rocking before the main speakers of the night. I've never seen her so fired up, she was really feeling it from the delegates.

"Now sure, sure, Mitt Romney loves our lakes and our trees. He loves our cars so much they even have their own elevator. But the people who design and build and sell those cars? Well, in Romney's world the cars get the elevator and the workers get the shaft! You know what I'm saying" (wink).

Granholm brilliantly led a recitation of auto jobs saved in each of the 'battleground" states that brought the convention hall to its feet to a chant of "USA! USA! USA!"

"In your car and on your ballot the 'D' is for drive forward, the 'R' is for reverse. In this election we are driving forward, not back."

Video below the fold.

Rep. John Lewis: People died for the right to vote, we have come too far together to ever turn back

by

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Civil Rights Movement hero Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) addressed the convention on voting rights. "My dear friends, your vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful, nonviolent tool we have to create a more perfect union." Lewis went on to describe the literacy tests and poll taxes that are now unconstitutional.

"Today it is unbelievable that there are Republican officials who are trying to stop some people from voting. They are changing the rules, cutting polling hours and imposing requirements intended to suppress the vote . . . that's not right, that's not fair, and that is not just."

"I've seen this before. I've lived this before. Too many people struggled, suffered and died to make it possible for every American to exercise their right to vote. We have come too far together to ever turn back. So Democrats we must not be silent. We must stand up, speak up and speak out. We must march to the polls like never ever before. We must come together and exercise our sacred right."

Video below the fold.

Gabrielle Giffords leads the Pledge of Allegiance at DNC Convention

by

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords led the Pledge of Allegiance at the DNC Convention on Thursday. She received the longest sustained applause of any nonspeaker at either party's convention. The emotional moment moved many convention delegates to tears. Go Gabby!

Video below the fold.

James Taylor jokes about the empty chair at DNC Convention

by

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

North Carolina native son and five-time Grammy Award winner James Taylor opened the evening with crowd favorite “Carolina On My Mind.” As he took the stage, Taylor joked about the stool set on the stage for him. James Taylor makes 'empty chair' joke – POLITICO:

“I know it’s an empty chair. It makes you nervous, doesn’t it?” Taylor said after he walked on the stage. “It’s alright, I’m gonna sit on it. I’m not gonna talk to it.”

After the final refrain, Taylor smiled and said, “You know, I’ve been watching the coverage, and I’ve got to say, there’s something; I don’t get it. I mean, I’m an old white guy, and I love Barack Obama,” Taylor said to cheers from the crowd.

Video below the fold.

Obama Campaign web video: ‘Promises Kept’

by

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

In advance of President Obama's convention speech tonight, the Obama campaign unveiled a web video this morning called "Promises
Kept." It features promises from his acceptance speech four years ago, highlighting
Obama's follow-through.

Video below the fold.